How Much Does a Same-Day Delivery Really Cost?

Let’s be honest — this is the question everyone wants to ask, but no courier seems to answer properly. So, here’s the truth from someone who actually lives and breathes this stuff every day.

💷 There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Price

The cost of a same-day delivery depends on what you’re sending, where from, where to, and how far ahead you're planning collection - and its the opposite of how you may be working right now.

If you’re moving a single pallet from Birmingham to Leeds, that’s a very different job to a forgotten laptop left in a coffee shop two miles away.

However, a two mile booking through the centre of London, will be much more expensive than a two mile job in The Lake District.

We mainly handle last minute palletised loads over long distance — business-to-business deliveries, where one of our vans or trucks can collect quickly (30-60 minutes).

Those jobs are quoted by mileage and vehicle type, and that’s where our platform really shines — we match loads to our vehicles already nearby, or on route back to their home town.

But if you’re a private sender with a short local journey — say a phone, briefcase, or laptop within 10–20 miles — that’s a completely different story.

Local drivers price by time, not distance, and unfortunately, there aren’t any “back-load” discounts for short trips.

So yes, the quote might feel high for a hop across town, but you’re paying for a professional driver’s time, not just the fuel.

🚚 Why Back-Loads Save Money (and When They Don’t)

A back-load happens when a driver has finished a delivery nearby and is about to head home empty, but your job just happens to be going the same way! ...and our platform brings the two of you together like magic!

That’s why long-distance deliveries — typically 60 miles or more — can be up to 40% cheaper on the ASAPToday platform, compared to just getting quotes from locally based couriers. The longer the journey, the more the dreaded "per mile" rate comes down - I have personally seen it as low as 40p per mile!!

But back-loads don’t exist for short, local trips.

If your load’s only going a few miles, the driver isn’t “heading home” — they’re working that local area and don't want to leave.

Local work is based on time, not mileage.

That’s why small local jobs often cost more than people expect.

🕒 Last Minute Loads Attract The Best Quotes

The same-day courier industry works in reverse to everything you’ve ever been told about transport and logistics.

In general haulage, you get rewarded for planning ahead.

In same-day delivery? It’s the complete opposite.

The more notice you give, the more expensive it usually is.

That’s because same-day couriers are only ever planning today, or at most, tomorrow.

When you post a last-minute load on the ASAPToday platform, you’re actually doing yourself a favour.

That’s when the best drivers — the ones who’ve just finished a job nearby — are looking for something to take them home or fill their remaining hours.

On the ASAPToday platform, we don’t just show quotes from our local drivers based around your collection area.

We also include non-local drivers who just happen to be there right now, empty.

That’s how we uncover the most competitive, real-time prices on the road — not inflated “plan-ahead” rates.

And here’s the truth most couriers won’t tell you:

If you book days in advance, one of two things is happening

1️⃣ You’re overpaying, because no driver’s schedule truly exists that far out.

2️⃣ Or your local courier’s accepting the booking early, sitting on it, then using a network like ours a few hours before collection, to find the actual driver heading that way — and keeping the margin.

Either way, you lose!

So when it comes to same-day delivery, don’t fear “last-minute.”

That’s when the best quotes appear, and with over 50,000 vans and trucks connected to the ASAPToday platform, you will always have multiple options to choose from.

🌱 The Bottom Line

So how much does a same-day delivery cost?

There’s no universal price — but there is a fair one.

ASAPToday’s online platform provides you with an instant quote AND live quotes from our drivers nearby with empty vehicles.

This process guarantees to find your best quote or fastest vehicle, every time

.....and as it stands, only ASAPToday offers this!

For long-distance deliveries, the live quotes often results in some serious savings.

For short, local jobs, it’s the cost of getting a professional driver to drop everything and collect right now.

Either way, you’ll know the truth before you book — no hidden extras, no “call for a quote,” just an honest price that makes sense.

👉 Get your instant quote now at asaptoday.co.uk